Italy: Exports and Consumer Spending Collapse. Government Vacillates.

Heading in a better direction?

Italy, a sorry situation, if ever there was one: Exports down over 4%, consumer spending down again and falling; the number of poor has doubled since 2007; one million jobs have gone. Corruption levels are causing major problems. What’s Italy’s government doing? Not a fat lot. In fact, Italy’s government for reasons which are unfathomable […]

The Worrying Berlusconi Factor

Though Silvio Berlusconi is no longer in Italy’s senate, his influence is still being felt and his legal woes are not going away. This, for Italy, is a major problem. Berlusconi is fishing for ‘get out of jail free’ cards and in exchange for a pack of these cards, he will authorise his Forza Italia […]

Wasteful Italy Throws Away One Trillion

Italy, it transpires has been throwing away taxpayers money like there’s no tomorrow. The nation’s national debt now stands at a whisker under two trillion Euros and it is still growing. Had Italy’s managers been better at managing their nation and been a little less efficient at spending wildly or allegedly redirecting cash into their own […]

To Transform or Not Transform Italy’s Senate, that is the Question

Italy’s politicians have decided the time has come to be rid of the nation’s upper house of parliament, the senate. Not everyone in Italy is too happy that the senate will cease to exist though. Why do some one to abolish the senate and others do not? Here’s an explanation and some clarification. Word is […]

Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi – Press Conference in London

Here’s a recording of the press conference held in London, England, today after Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi met United Kingdom Prime Minister James Cameron. Listen to ‘David Cameron and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi press conference’ on Audioboo

Those Objectionable Cottarelli Reforms For Italy

Heading in a better direction?

Carlo Cottarelli, an Italian, and a former Fiscal Affairs Department director of the International Monetary Fund, has been charged with working out a reform program for Italy. In late March, Cottarelli’s reform plan, otherwise known as a spending review, became known and that’s when the trouble started. Both Italy’s President Napolitano and current Prime Minister […]

Electoral Reform for Italy Passes First Hurdle

Italy’s parliament is slowly hammering out the details of new election rules. Today, the election law changes were voted through Italy’s lower house. Now the details of what has come to be known as the Italicum electoral system in Italy will be examined by Italy’s upper house, the senate. If the senate approves the electoral […]

Unconstitutional: Too Many Women in Italy’s Parliament

Italy’s parliament is debating electoral law reform but has hit a stumbling block: women. Yes, that’s right, members of the fairer sex are causing hiccups in Italy’s electoral reform process. Female Italian MPs say Italy’s parliament, like Italy’s population, should be made up of 50% women and 50% men. However, not only is the Berlusconi […]

Italy: What’s Happening to The 5 Star Movement?

Beppe Grillo's Social Media Aware 5 Star Movement

As you may know, the 5 Star Movement, founded and led by former comedian Beppe Grillo managed to enter Italy’s parliament after elections were held at the start of 2013. The Movement won 109 seats in Italy’s lower house and 54 in the upper one. What you might not know is that the 5 Star […]